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Time to get ahead of the curve

As the first month of the season comes to an end, you will realize that your fantasy team is either just as good as you hoped, or a bit of a disappointment. Getting frustrated is not going to make your team

As the first month of the season comes to an end, you will realize that your fantasy team is either just as good as you hoped, or a bit of a disappointment. Getting frustrated is not going to make your team better; working the waiver wire and getting ahead of the curve will give you the edge you need to succeed. If on the other hand your team is great, couldn't it be just a little bit better?

QB Alex Smith, Kansas City Chiefs

Alex Smith is the quarterback no one wants to love but after the first month of the season, he's in the top six in quarterback scoring. Alex Smith has scored more fantasy points than Tom Brady, Robert Griffin III and Tony Romo. Surprisingly, it's not the volume of being in an Andy Reid offense that is making him so valuable since he's only 20th in the league in pass attempts per game.Smith is genuinely enjoying the best month of his career and is showing no signs of slowing down. What Smith lacks in arm strength, he makes up with accuracy, dinking-and-dunking his Chiefs to a 4-0 record and perhaps more importantly, earning the trust of fantasy owners to plug him into their lineup.

RB Rashad Jennings, Oakland Raiders

Raiders fans and fantasy fans knew they had to get as many starts out of Darren McFadden for as long as they could. The severity of McFadden's hamstring injury isn't known but if history is any indicator, I think we can expect the worst and hope for the best. Fan favorite and PPR savior Marcel Reece, also suffered a knee injury in the game, which leaves Rashad Jennings as the last man standing in the Oakland backfield. Jennings underwhelmed when called upon in similar circumstances last year with Jacksonville. Don't expect much, but the Raiders have no choice but to give him as many carries as he can take, which is enough of a reason to roster him.

WR Nate Washington, Tennessee Titans

The Titans have plenty of young and talented receivers on their team but it's the old wily veteran who was nearly jettisoned in the offseason that is having the best season. Over the last two games, Washington has been heavily involved in the Titans passing game with 12 receptions on 18 targets. While some of Washington's numbers are certainly a direct result of Jake Locker's improved performance, Ryan Fitzpatrick who took over for Locker after he was carted off the field, continued to target Nate Washington. With Locker's immediate future in doubt however, and the upcoming schedule looking incredibly tough (Chiefs, Seahawks, and Niners), prospective Nate Washington owners may want to temper their expectations.

WR Justin Blackmon, Jacksonville Jaguars

Justin Blackmon is the next Josh Gordon in every conceivable way, which can be both good and bad. When Blackmon returns from his four game suspension this week he will be greeted by a team in disarray and a beleaguered starting quarterback in Blaine Gabbert. Blackmon is a talented young receiver who ended 2012 on a roll with Chad Henne throwing him the ball. Make sure he's not on the waiver wire and bide your time for Chad Henne to become the starter again, as there is a great deal of talent in Blackmon, it just remains to be seen if the Jaguars can extract it.